Hickory Valley Switch House Building Seismic Strengthening

Hickory Valley, Tennessee

Developed seismic strengthening measures for Tennessee Valley Authority’s Hickory Valley Switch House Building in Hickory Valley, Tennessee.  The Switch House Building is a 28’ by 60’ two-story rectangular-shaped building constructed circa 1951.  The seismic strengthening consisted of new CMU shear walls at the exterior with interior and exterior steel HSS strongbacks to brace the existing URM walls. Encapsulation of the existing plaster ceilings and bracing nonstructural equipment and furniture was also performed.